Division 1
The Ammies move into second place in the league after a thumping 7-0 win against an understrength St John’s, Timperley retain both top spot and their 100% record this season with a 5-2 win at Wythenshawe, while The Victoria made it two wins in succession and Broadheath finally broke their duck in an eventful week of Division 1 darts. John Alker requested a rescheduling of their game with The Levenshulme.
St John’s SC 0 vs 7 Ammies Darts
The Ammies went into this one with a point to prove following last weeks defeat at the hands of league leaders Timperley Conservative Club but, on paper at least, last season’s Division 2 winners represented a significant test as they had proved in a close 4-3 loss against the Ammies in last seasons KO Cup Semi Final. However…. having a couple of players unavailable and others playing despite illness is not a recipe for success against the recently wounded champions.
Andy Tucker made his first league appearance of the season for the Ammies in game one, and showed no signs of rust when hitting a 17 darter and a maximum during a 3-0 win over Alan Dawson. Karl Cooper was next up for the Ammies with a 3-0 win against Martin Tyson, a match which saw Coops in blistering form with a massive 12 ton-plus scores in the 3 legs played, alongside a fifteen darter, all contributing to a whopping 90.18 average… take a bow son. Triple M, Massive Mike Morrison soon made it 3-0 overall with a 3-0 defeat of Reece Tyson, and after Ray Dore’s 3-2 win gave an under-the-weather Mike Shaw a first taste of defeat since joining the SMD League, the match win was confirmed. Lewis Ellis was next up for St John’s to try and stop the rot, and although he hit a 180 and a creditable 67.79 average, that wasn’t enough to get the better of an on-song Adam Watson who hit a 14 darter and 80.88 average during his 3-1 win. The Ammies could smell blood, and keen to recoup some of the points lost the previous week, they were in no mood to go easy. Game 6 saw Kyle Bell record his second maximum of the season and a 17 darter in his 3-0 win against Oliver Clark, while in the final game of the night St John’s newcomer Danny Glover would likely have needed a Lethal Weapon to stop Paul Devine’s 3-0 win from securing the 7-0 whitewash.
Broadheath Central 4 vs 3 Cringlewood
Broadheath got themselves off the mark, after a trio of 5-2 defeats, with victory here against The Cringlewood who despite some close calls, are still looking for a first league win of the season.
Brandon Lawley put the home side into an early lead hitting his second maximum of the season, a 16 darter and a 75.15 average in a 3-0 win over Phil Lauder, and that lead was doubled after a 3-2 Dan Cross win against Hayley Mulhern. Rob Lauder pulled one back for the Cringlewood before sister Lianne brought the sides level with a 180 in her 3-2 win against Shane Crellin. Broadheath’s Lee Marsh restored the home advantage with a 180 en-route to a comfortable 3-0 win over John Mulhern, and the bonus points were Broadheath’s after Leyton Jackson rattled in 6 ton plus scores, a 17 dart leg and a 75.15 average while beating Luke Mulhern 3-0. Alex Martin gained an extra point for the vistors in the final game with a match-high 8 ton plus scores helping him beat Lee Darcey by 3 legs to 1.
John Alker PP vs PP The Levenshulme
Game postponed at the request of the John Alker, new date to be confirmed.
Match Stats
The Volunteer 3 vs 4 The Victoria
The Volunteer have had a tough time of it since this season’s return to the top flight with a couple of heavy 6-1 defeats prior to this game, but they will be heartened by a much better performance this time out which, despite defeat, earned them a valuable 3 points.
Gary Williams put the home side into an early lead, nailing the winning dart in a last leg decider with Lewis Holley after a back and forth game. An in-form Terry Jepson responded immediately for The Victoria in game two, with a 3-0 defeat of Vol Captain Geoff Sanders, a game which featured Terry’s fourth 180 in as many league games this season, a 17 darter and solid 73.92 average. Next up, I played globetrotting New Zealand based Paul Henshaw who took time out from his sheep shearing duties to fly over especially to take part in this game (allegedly). Paul was unlucky in each of the legs and I managed a 3-0 win to put the Vic 2-1 up on the night. There followed a cracking game between The Volunteer’s Callum Nolan and Vic’s Matt Jepson, and despite the fact that Matt (who is already reeling from the current status of his seasonal £20 challenge bet with Dad Terry for the most 180s – Jeppo Senior currently leading that 4-0 after 4 games) swept into an early 2-0 lead, Callum was able to win the remaining legs to level the overall score at 2-2. The Vic were back in the lead after the fifth, as a rejuvenated Connor Wigley hit his 3rd maximum of the season during a 3-1 win against Niall Willis. The Vol newcomer is still looking for a first win, but with a match high 8 ton-plus scores and a fine 106 finish in the first leg, Im sure he wont be waiting long. Big finish expert Connor on the other hand tripled his highest finish of the previous week with a collosal 24 kill in the second leg this time out. With The Vic one win away, and the consistent scoring of Sean Edwards to come, we were nearly home and dry, and whilst he got the 3-2 win against Toni Williams, it doesnt really tell the story of a fine performance from Toni in which she hit an 18 darter with a 111 finish to level the match, scored 7 ton-pluses to Seans 6, and generally frightened the life out of him. Lots more to come from this young lady. With the game done and dusted at 4-2, The Vic were unable to extend the lead further as The Knife Dave Stanley was blunted in a 3-0 defeat to Danny O’Donnell.
Wythenshawe CSC 2 vs 5 Timperley CC
The league leaders have their tails up at the moment, and were coming straight off a win against the reigning champions the Ammies, but Wythenshawe are no pushovers with some serious quality in the side if they can get everyone together on the same night.
Timperley are really going for it this season and were soon into the lead after a 180 and 15 darter from Andy Pearson propelled him to a 3-1 win over Adam White. Paul Taylor has been a superb player in both the Stockport league and Superleague for many many years and has been a fine acquisition for Wythenshawe, as he showed in game 2 to level things up with a comfortable 3-0 win in which he hit 7 ton-plus scores, a 17 darter and 77.74 average. Craig Weston put the visitors back into the lead with a 3-1 win over an out-of-sorts Dave Peploe, and after Chris Stone took a deciding leg against John Brown, Timperley were soon 3-1 to the good. Gary Sullivan secured the game for Timperley with a wonderful 13 dart leg and a second maximum of the season, and although Mandy Smith reduced the defecit with a fine 3-1 defeat of Andy Brownhill, Timperley were to extend that winning margin further after 8 ton-plus scores, a maximum, and a 128 finish helped Callum Loose to a 3-2 win over Martin Power.
Division 2
Only three of the five scheduled fixtures went ahead this week with the Carters requesting rearrangement of their match with St Anthony’s and Roebuck rearranging with LMRCA. The three games played were exciting enough though, as unbeaten Trafford SC’s fourth consecutive win sees them top the division outright by a point after Ashton-on-Mersey’s unbeaten start to the season came to an abrupt end at The Royal Oak and the Melville got back to winning ways with a 4-3 win while hosting Urmston.
The Malt Shovels 2 vs 5 Trafford SC
The Malts are having a much tougher time of things this season, no doubt caused by the loss of a couple of key players as they go through somewhat of a transition following last season’s promotion as Divison 3 Champions. This was their second 5-2 defeat to Trafford this season following the KO cup reverse in July, but they will hope things will turn around for the better soon. Trafford on the other hand go from strength to strength, unbeaten at the top of the table, with this win representing a perfect five from five games played.
Trafford stormed into an early lead that they would never relinquish after a now customary Kyle Wands win was followed by 3-1 wins for Liam Galvin and McKenzie Evans to make the score 3-0. Simon McBride pulled a game back with 5 ton-plus scores in a 3-1 win against Andrew Wood, but the bonus points were secured for Trafford after Andrew Davies got the better of Dean Power by 3 legs to 1. Malt Shovels captain James Roberts pulled another back for his team with a 180 in a 3-0 win against Jordan Fry, but with only six players available for the Malts, that was to be their final pont of the night as the final game was awarded as a 3-0 walkover for Trafford.
St Anthony’s PP vs PP Carters Arms
Carters Arms requested a postponement of this game, rearranged date to be confirmed.
Match Stats
The Melville 4 vs 3 Urmston SC
This was a matchup between two sides on good form as Urmston went into this one off the back of consecutive 6-1 wins, while the Melville have shown great improvement this season with last weeks narrow defeat to the Roebuck their only loss so far.
The home side got themselves on the board straight away, with a 3-0 win for Owen Powell which makes it five from five for him this season, but game 2 saw James Helsop continue his own fine start to life in the league with a comfortable 3-0 win, his fourth win in as many games, to draw the sides level. Another newcomer to the league Gary Brisco put The Melville back in front with a 3-1 win over Harry Fitton in game 3, and after Paul Sambrook’s fifth win in five games they were soon 3-1 up overall. Urmston then produced a late rally to draw level with wins for Luke Lonergan and Gaz Lane, but in a seventh game decider it was The Melville’s Captain Jon Powell who came out on top with a 3-1 win over Dylan Bell to win the match for his side.
The Roebuck PP vs PP LMRCA
Match postposed at request of The Roebuck.
Match Stats
The Royal Oak A 5 vs 2 Ashton-on-Mersey
Ashton went into this match as Division 1 leaders following big wins in the opening games of the season, but the Oak had only been beaten once in a close defeat to (the still unbeaten) Trafford Social Club and would have been confident of putting the brakes on Ashton’s early charge.
And those brakes were to be slammed on early as The Oak delivered a rude awakening from the outset with wins in each of the first four games to claim the win and bonus points. Steven Lee’s 3-1 win against James Compton started things off, before Pete Perry doubled the lead after winning 3-0 in the second. Sharon Kirby took a deciding leg in her game to make it 3-0 overall, and when Tony Kirby got the better of Andy Mathias by 3 legs to 1 in game 4, the result was in the bag. From there it was now damage limitation for Ashton and they responded well as first Harry Guthrie defied a 180 from Ryan Crook to win 3-1 before Mike Buckley hit a 104 finish in a 3-0 defeat of Jordan Perry to make it 4-2 overall. That was to be the end of it though as a 3-0 Steve Lawless win in the final game of the night gave The Royal Oak a 5-2 win overall placing them third in the league.
Division 3
Broadheath Central Aces opened up a healthy seven point lead at the top of the Division 3 table with their fourth win in as many games, and they now remain the only unbeaten team in the division after a chastening 6-1 defeat for Sale Excel at Levenshulme B, a result which sees both teams now tied in second place. The Vine make it three wins in succession to move into fourth, the recently resurgent Stretfordians suffer a first loss in three with a narrow 4-3 defeat against The Nelson, The Bulls Head raid the Buck Inn-eers to plunder a 5-2 win, and the Royal Oak B make it two from two after a 5-2 win at the Jolly Butcher.
Old Market Tavern 2 vs 5 Broadheath Central Aces
The Aces made it four wins from four games with a third consecutive 5-2 win putting daylight between them and second place.
Andy McCormack and Dave Wood both claimed 2-0 wins to put the visitors into an early 2-0 lead, but the defecit was halved after a 2-0 Angela Haycocks win over Darren Wood in game 3. Simon Wood restored the two game advantage with a deciding leg win against Steven Foster in the fourth, while game five saw a 2-0 Nigel Beeton win extend the lead further to secure the win and the bonus points for BHC Aces. Bob Hilton made it 5-1 with a 15 darter in his 2-1 win over Sally Corfield, but Richard Haycocks was able to pull another back for the OMT in the final game of the night with a 2-0 defeat of Iris Bannister.
Stretfordians 3 vs 4 The Nelson Didsbury
Stretfordians run of back to back wins came to an end with this narrow defeat against The Nelson, who have now made it three wins on the trot to move above their opponents into sixth place in the Division.
The visitors got off to a flying start with wins in each of the first three games, Dave Harris put them one up with a 3-1 win against Georgio Corbett, Graham Beech made it two with a 2-0 win – his fourth in as many games, while Dave Cook also won 2-0 to put The Nelson three up. Stretfordian’s Captain Lindsay Rice pulled one back with a 2-1 win in the fourth against Saj Shariff, but a 2-0 Tom Spillane win in game 5 put the game out of reach of Stretfordians at 4-1. Despite that, the Trafford side were clearly keen to get as much out of the game as possible, and rallied to win the final games of the night through Adam Jackson (2-0) and Sacha Kavanagh (2-1) to give a final scoreline of 4-3 to the Nelson.
The Bent Brook 3 vs 4 The Vine Inn
The Bent Brook had a full seven available again this week, but it wasn’t enough to stop them falling to a third defeat on the trot against a Vine Inn side who have now made it three wins in succession.
The Bent Brook are renowned for their after match food, and it appeared in the early stages as though the Vine were keen to sample this as soon as possible, as they quick marched into an early 3-0 lead following 2-0 victories for Stuart Tait, Adi McCarroll and Charlie Sanders. The Brook responded valiantly, as first Ken Turnock pulled one back with a 2-1 win, Anthony Coleman won 2-0 to reduce the defecit further, before another 2-0 win, for Craig McManus, drew the two teams level after six games played. So it all came down to a final game decider between the Brook’s Rob Moore and Dave Goulden of The Vine, and as often happens in situations like this, that deciding game went to a deciding leg which was taken by the Vine man to give his side the win.
The Buck Inn-eers 2 vs 5 The Bulls Head
The Bucks are still without a win following this defeat, but should take heart from the fact they have come close to breaking that duck on a couple of occasions so far, while the visiting Bulls get back to winning ways after a couple of recent defeats.
The visitors were swiftly underway with 2-0 wins for Iain Fish and Bo Bowman, Bo with a 19 darter and 66.8 average in game two. Harley Woods registered a 2-1 win to get the Buck Inn on the board in game three, but Rob Barbers 2-0 win against Rick Hindle restored the two game cushion at 3-1. Jamie Harris won a deciding leg against Joe Blacker in game 5 to seal the match and bonus points for the Bull’s, but there was still some life in the Bucks who were able to pull another one back through James Bloomfield in the sixth before Chris Cordingley’s 2-0 win in the final game finished things off at 5-2.
The Levenshulme B 6 vs 1 Excelsior WMC
Both sides have had a solid start, and The Excel would have gone into this one full of beans as they were unbeaten so far this season, while the Levenshulme had just suffered their first loss, a 5-2 reverse at Stretfordians. But what a difference a week was to make, as The Levenshulme turned the form book on its head to record their biggest win since joining the league.
Ben Harrington and George Moss gave the home side a 2-0 early advantage with 2-0 wins over Danny Chua and Mark Davis, and this lead was extended to 3-0 after Ryan Murphy won a deciding leg with Hannah Tague. The Levenshulme had the bit between their teeth, and after a 2-0 win for Oscar Coutts against Connor McCorkell, the bonus points were in the bag and Levenshulme had the win. Peter Sage finally put The Excel on the scoreboard, but further Levenshulme wins in the final two games through Keiran Chapman and David Duffy ensured the home team earned their biggest win so far, and the visitors their first defeat of the season.
The Jolly Butcher 2 vs 5 Royal Oak B
Following two early 6-1 defeats, the Royal Oak B made it two wins on the trot with this defeat of the Jolly Butcher, who suffer a third consecutive 5-2 reverse.
Rob Whiteside put the visitors one up with a deciding leg win over Gareth Sullivan, but Gary Hudson’s 2-0 win in game 2 brought the Jolly Butcher level. Jack Holt restored the Oak’s lead with a 2-0 win of his own against Chris McGrory in game 3, and Jaydon Strong extended the lead to 3-1 when winning a decider with Michael Wessemeyer. Liz Sweeney reduced the gap with a 2-0 defeat of Alex Williams in game five, but the Oak were not to be denied from there on in, and wrapped it up when Pete DeCordova beat Jake Smith 2-0 in the sixth, before Jack Bushell sealed the 5-2 overall scoreline with a 2-0 win against Chris O’Keefe in the final game of the night.
Next week sees a break from league action as the Last 16 of the KO Cup is played out, while the first round losers of that competition are contesting the last 16 of the KO Shield. As a reminder, the format for these games, in both competitions is best of 3, with the away team to throw first in games 1, 3, 5 & 7.
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